Finding the Right Fit
After a major disaster, building designers can be in short supply. You might be tempted to hire the first available designer and skip the process of interviewing several candidates. But doing so could leave you stuck with someone who isn’t the right fit and create a lot of stress down the line. The right designer won’t just design your home, they may save you from the kinds of problems that complicate the building process or stall a rebuild once it’s underway. The interview process is the best way to find a designer whose design and work styles are compatible with your own.
Unless you have a personal reason for working with a specific architect or designer, it’s smart to interview several. If you’re unsure what type of design professional to work with, you might talk to one or two professionals from each category before making a final decision.
The interview should be used as an introduction—your chance to see their work and get a feeling for who they are. Don’t expect the designer to come up with design ideas on the spot, unless you’re paying for the designer’s time and want to see how they think.
If you’re interviewing a large architectural or design/build firm, make sure the person you’re meeting with is the one who will handle the job.
Use the following list of questions to guide your conversations with the designers you interview. Their answers—and how they explain their work—can help you assess whether they’re a good fit for your project.
Interview Questions to Ask Design Professionals
- Can you show me examples of spaces you’ve designed that feel good to be in?
Consider what draws you into the space? Do you feel a sense of calm, clarity, or flow? - How do you evaluate a building site?
Ask how they take into account things like sun exposure, slope, wind, privacy, and surrounding views. - How do you balance aesthetics and functionality in your designs?
Look for examples of how they’ve used light, circulation patterns, and indoor-outdoor flow to serve daily life. - How do you approach designing for real-life needs?
Ask about how they plan for storage, traffic flow, quiet zones, utility areas, and flexible spaces. - What’s your communication style—and how do you like to work with clients?
Make sure they’re good listeners and explain how they collaborate with others on the project team. - How do you handle coordination with consultants like engineers or contractors?
They should be comfortable integrating outside input into their plans. - How familiar are you with local zoning, building codes, and the permitting process?
Ask how they stay up to date and how they’ve helped clients avoid delays or surprises. - How do you approach designing within a budget?
Look for someone who understands material and labor costs and can keep aesthetics aligned with affordability. You may have to get this information from their referrals. - What do you do when a problem arises during construction?
Assess how they respond to setbacks and whether they are solution-oriented and calm under pressure. - What’s your experience with disaster-resilient design?
If you’re rebuilding in a high-risk zone, ask specifically about fire-resistant materials, floodproofing, wind loads, or seismic safety—whatever applies to your region. - Will you be involved during construction?
If they offer project management, ask how they coordinate schedules, site visits, and consultant oversight.
Since your designer will be part of your life for many months, you want to find a person who is easy to talk to about things as personal as your lifestyle, hopes, fears, and any concerns you have that might create conflicts. If you are ambivalent after the interview, keep looking.
Check References and Past Work
It may feel right to go with your instincts. But even if you’re convinced you’ve found the right design professional, check their references—from previous clients as well as the contractors who built the homes they designed. Once you start construction, the last thing you want is an adversarial relationship between the architect and contractor—with you caught in the middle.
Ask for references for projects that are similar in size, scope, or style to yours, as well as some that are quite different. A good variety of work indicates their ability to address different clients’ tastes and needs.
If possible, ask to walk through one of their finished projects. Seeing their work in person can give you insights that drawings and renderings can’t—how the space flows, the feel of natural light, and the quality of finishes.
Plan to speak with at least three past clients and several contractors. A single glowing review doesn’t give you the full picture. And while designers will likely steer you toward their happiest clients, you can still gain valuable insights by asking the right questions. Most people who are happy with the experience they’ve had with a service professional are also happy to promote them.